Page 5 of Wilde In His Arms

His shoulders slumped.“Don’t say that.Not when I’ve got zero time and I’m walking out the door.”

“That’s an answer in and of itself.You’ve got a helicopter waiting for you, a meeting to get to, bad guys to arrest, people to save.I understand.I really do.But I just can’t keep having sex with you, no matter how good it is, and holding myself back from finding what I really want.”

He took her hand and squeezed it.“We have more than great sex.”

“Do we?Because from where I’m standing, and from how you showed up today and we ended up in bed and now you’re walking out the door, I can’t see that we have anything else.”Tears welled in her eyes.She tried to blink them away, but this broke her heart.

He winced when he saw her tears.“Can we please just hit pause and talk about this when I come back?”

Not exactly a set date or time coming out of his mouth.

“I don’t see what’s going to change, Nick.”

He cupped her face, brushing away a tear with his thumb.“I care about you.You have to believe that.”

“I do.That’s not the issue.”

His phone beeped again.“Fuck.I don’t have time for this.”He released her and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“Exactly.”

His gaze snapped to hers.“That’s not what I meant.I want to stay and fix this.”

“I know.But we can’t deny the truth.And I’m not picking a fight with you.I’m not asking you for anything.I’m simply telling you, I can’t do this anymore.It breaks my heart to watch you walk out the door again and again and nothing changes.I wish I could say I’ll pack up my life here and move to be closer to you, but I can’t do that.Melody is leaving with Fox.Lyric and Layla are pregnant.It’s going to be up to me to keep the bar open.”

Nick put his hand over the back of his neck.“I know.”He checked his watch again.“I don’t want to leave like this.”

“It’s the same way we always say goodbye.I’ll see you around, Nick.It just won’t be like this anymore.”

Nick hooked his hand at the back of her neck, leaned in, and pressed his forehead to hers.“We’re not over.I can’t accept that.”

She didn’t say anything.

Nick gave her a quick kiss and walked toward the door.

She followed him all the way and stood in the doorway as he made his way down the stairs and to his car, opened the door, then turned back to her and just stared at her leaning against the frame, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“We’re not over,” he declared again, then got in his car and drove off, leaving her alone and brokenhearted.

“Yes, we are,” she told the wind, because he was long gone.

Chapter two

Nickcalledhisbrotherthe second he drove away from Aria’s place.Of course Mason picked up right away.

“What’s up?”

“I fucked up.Big time.She dumped me.”

Silence.

“Mason?”

“I heard you.I’m waiting to hear what you’re going to do about it.She’s the best thing that ever happened to you and I know you’re not stupid enough to let her go, even if you have neglected her and the relationship.”

Nick rolled his eyes, frustration eating at him.“Tell me how you really feel.”

“I think you’re an asshole for using work as an excuse.The same way I was an asshole for not going after Lyric the second I saw her and wanted her.So I say again.What are you going to do about it?”

---